Rarely do victims of police brutality receive any kind of justice, especially in a courtroom.
However, a jury—composed of six women—affirmed that the family of Korryn Gaines is owed a lot of money.
Gaines, a mother of two, was shot to death by a Baltimore County Police officer in August 2016, according to The Washington Post. Police officers appeared at the Gaines' doorsteps one summer morning at 9 a.m. to present a warrant and broke in when no one answered the door. Police claim the first officer to barge into the apartment was greeted by Gaines with a shotgun. After six hours of occupying her Randallstown apartment with other cops, an officer shot her to death and also injured her then 5-year-old son.
The Gaines children—her daughter, Karsyn, and son, Kodi—will receive funds to cover damages from a civil lawsuit. The Root reports Kodi, who was injured during the incident, will receive over $32 million and Karsyn will receive $4.5 million. Additionally, Gaines' mother was awarded $307,000 and her father was also awarded $300,000. An additional $300,000 was awarded to the Gaines estate.
Gaines had a history of being targeted by local police. The 23-year-old was also stopped in March 2016 for driving with a "Free Traveler" cardboard sign, as a placeholder for a license plate, according to The Baltimore Sun. During the same incident, she repeatedly mentioned how police would have to murder her in order to remove her from the driver's seat.
Outrage surfaced when a month later, officials announced no criminal charges would be filed against the cops involved with her killing.
Baltimore County government attorney Mike Field disagrees with the jury's decision. Additionally, Assistant County Attorney James S. Ruckle Jr. told the jury that Gaines was responsible for her own death.
